Observations from Area Code 706: ATL vs DAL
Talk about fallout. This is the most post-loss activity I've seen since joining the site. I guess you could chalk it up to how badly the game went or how poorly the team seemed to perform. Regardless, you guys have been both humble and very vocal, full of analysis. It's a magical thing.
I've had plenty of time to, in a sense, "get over" this loss, seeing as I had it marked down as a loss from day one (at least, until two weeks ago; dadgum blind confidence). But with the ever-diminishing depth in our secondary, I can't help but highlight some of the, well, lowlights of Sunday's game. But first...
- WEEEEEEEEEMS. Give that man some downs, especially in the slot or, heck, if Mularkey's got the lab coat on, the TE position. I say this because of one key thing: Weems can move and could be a vital part of a somewhat struggling offensive corps.
- To that effect, so could smelling what the Snelling has cooked up for us. Yes, I went there. No, this is not just a meme (fad) that Dave dreamt up while having a nice lucid dream. No, this is a strategy that could work, at least in the interim. Suffice to say, defenses, with 6 full tapes of gameplay to go by, know what we're going to do offensively. That's what Snelling and Weems should be used as: bait or change ups.
- Our offensive play calling has been very stoic after scoring.
- The secondary is, without a doubt, hurting after Williams' loss. And now with Moore on IR, the motley crew for a second defensive level is looking mighty lean, but no so mean. Without some major moves or an increase in maturity/skill level, I'm going to have to be humbling my expectations for the rest of the year.
- Matt Ryan is dynamite (mostly) when he's untouched. When he's rattled and hit four times, we get two INTs and a ton of badly thrown passes, most of those coming from hurried or mis-aligned reads. Par for the course with a second year QB. Remember gang, he's just in his second year and he's this good. Think of him four years down the road, when he'll hopefully be signing a nice big extension...
- Turner...Turner...Turner... I have no prognosis, but I can see the symptoms. He's getting hit harder by faster, better defenses. He's having trouble finding holes (if they're there) and he's coming with less power off the handoff. We'll see if it's a line thing, fundamental thing, or mental thing later on. Right now, whatever it is, I'd like it to be fixed.
- Gonzo cannot alone carry this offense, especially when he's bracketed by one man up, one man down. Variety is the spice of life, Matt. Don't have a read on Gonzo on every single passing play.
- Our pass rush, so dependent on Abe and Alien/Duffman, was absolutely anemic in the second half.
- That darn sunlight cascading through the huge glass facade of that billion dollar tribute to the football gods! It made it look so peaceful on a battlefield where my warriors were getting thrashed about. Insert sad emoticon here.
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Mama said! Mama said!
Couldn’t agree more about Weems and Snelling. This coaching staff isn’t dumb and it isn’t going to sit on potential help forever. I’d expect to see each get a few more snaps this week.
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by Dave the Falconer on Oct 27, 2009 5:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Kinda makes you wonder
IF Turner comes back to Earth, and IF Norwood can stay healthy, and IF Snelling keeps it up … can you say three headed monster?
Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?
Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.
by FrankyWren on Oct 27, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pass defense scares me the worst
We’re giving up 251 yds/gm passing and the personnel outlook isn’t very rosy. Hope the Falcons can make do until Free Agency and the Draft.
by tom slick on Oct 27, 2009 6:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We’ll see if it’s a line thing, fundamental thing, or mental thing later on. Right now, whatever it is, I’d like it to be fixed.
VERY well said. Not much more to say. Y’all haters need to stop projecting on Burner (oh snap – did I just get psychological?! Gizflam!) …
Reporter: How will you address all of the dropped passes?
Mike Smith: I don’t think that we were as sharp as we have been catching the football. It’s something that is very fixable. It’s VERY fixable.
by FrankyWren on Oct 27, 2009 7:48 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
three things that really ticked me off
1: our pass defense was horrible
2: our D-line didn’t sack romo at all
3: on our 2nd and 3rd drive the boys got away with 2 pass interference that killed both drives and they were very obvious
by southman on Oct 27, 2009 8:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bring Back Rod Coleman, He Had 10.5 Sacks in 2005, and get another CornerBack.
Bring Back Rod Coleman, He was a great DT. 10.5 Sacks in 2005, for ATLANTA FALCONS.
Also Sign Another Extra Cornerback, Someone for more than Special Teams, The injuries are tacking there toll. Or a Safety, and or all three. Trimane Goddard, Derek Pegues,
Wompano Osaisai, were in college last year before Draft. Also The Atl- Journals Constitution Kin wasn’t he , Terrence Moore ?, a safety or Cornerback.
As Far as NFL WAIVER LIST I saw Some in Last Two Months on NFL.Com. Players Transactions. CB, LB, SS, FS, DE.
by Jeff Gibson on Oct 29, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Rod might be done
He was great in 2005, but that was four years ago and injuries have really caught up since then. Always worth scouring the waiver wire.
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by Dave the Falconer on Oct 29, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What confuses me the most
is how Turner looked in the preseason. I watched every game I could, and he looked like the same old Turner. He was getting runs of 4, 5, or 6 yards after being hit, and broke a couple of long runs. I know it was just the preseason, but I can’t figure out how the rushing game dropped off that quickly.
I’m also a little annoyed at his avoidance of any of the blame. Everything he’s said has been to the tune of the line needs to get better.
I’ve heard rumors that he came into camp a little out of shape, but I personally haven’t read anything about that.
Its true. I'm a Falcoholic! I just can't live without Falcohol!
by phoenix falcoholic on Oct 28, 2009 12:16 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Good observation
Turner looked like the 2008 version all through the preseason, then kablooey.
by tom slick on Oct 28, 2009 2:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I also heard he came into camp a few pounds overweight
But you’re right, in the preseason he looked like the old Turner, even against the Chargers, if I recall correctly.
You know what? Here’s a super conspiracy for you. Matty Ice has come in contact too much with Burner Turner, and he has now become Burntout Turner. Therefore, we must send Michael Turner to the center of the Earth to recharge his afterburners so he can come back and save the day!
Yep, I’m out of good ideas. Someone fix this man’s running problem or find someone who’ll do it better than him and let’s roll. This game is a business, you know.
by Zippo729 on Oct 28, 2009 2:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
One more observation.
I swear I post too much. Haha.
Turner’s fumbling issues. They weren’t present in the preseason, but if I recall, he fumbled in Week 1. He’s had several fumbles this year already and at times, I’ve watched him run with both hands over the ball instead of his normal way. You don’t think that’s part of the problem, do you? He’s getting a little afraid to hit the hole at 200 mph because he might cough up the rock?
Two of his fumbles were perfect hats-on-ball hits. Anyone would’ve fumbled those hits, even AP.
But if I was a player and I took pride in being a power runner, fumbling the ball a lot would hurt my pride extensively, even if I didn’t show it. I don’t think he fumbled against the ‘Boys, so maybe we’ll see a rebound. Whatever the case, we need a solution.
by Zippo729 on Oct 28, 2009 2:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
An honorable loss
Good game. I won’t pretend I wasn’t seriously worried after y’all’s first drive. I can see how you’d be seriously concerned after this game, but I have two points that I think will give you a lot more hope.
1) you pretty much stopped our running game. No one else has managed to do that nearly as well, or at least it seems that way.
2) I think the ‘Boys are better than most seem to think, at least now that Romo/Austin has become real. under that, there’s the fact that you really only had one game’s worth of film to plan for Austin.
So again, good game, and I have a feeling we might see you in the playoffs :)
God Bless Texas
by dwarfknight64 on Oct 28, 2009 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Texas's Govorner likes to pet people.

That’s all I’ve got.
by TomQ on Oct 30, 2009 3:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Haha
I could watch this all day and it would never get old.
"This is America, if we can’t self-righteously look down on others and blame them for our faults, the commies win."-----Cormican on Bleeding Green Nation w/r/t fans overreacting to the Eagles signing of Michael Vick
by Jesse28 on Nov 2, 2009 8:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

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